Signal device



' Jan. 13, 1925.

J. O. CADIEUX SIGNAL DEVICE Filed July 2, 1923 Patented Jan. 13, 1925;.

srars JOSEPH O. CADIEUX, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR. TO THECONNECTICUT TELEPHONE 8t ELECTRIC COMPANY. INCORPORATED. I

SIGNAL DEVICE.

Application filed July 2, 1828. Serial No. 849,093.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH O. CADIEUX, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Meriden, New Haven County, Connecticut, haveinvented a new and useful Signal Device, of'which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates'to an electric circuit controlling deviceparticularly for hospital signal systems and the like.

The main object of my invention is to provide a simple, reliable, anddurableconstruetion by which connection can be readily made and which ismoisture proof.

Another object is to provide a construction of the multiple plugconnecting type which will insure proper connection of multiplecircuits.

Another object is to provide a construction of this character which isnot only safe electrically but substantially unbreakable.

In carrying out the invention in its preferred form I have illustrated apush button call device cord with plug attachment.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a con struction embodying theimprovements ofmy invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of a wall plate or signal station withthe plug in place.

Fig. 3 is a rear view of a multiple plug.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the push button switch end ofthe device.

In the construction shown, the signal station has a face plate 5 whichcarries a frame consisting of two insulating members 6 and 7 connectedby one or more studs or posts 8 which also secure the members 6 and 7 tothe plate 5. The rear insulating plate 6 carries a plurality of springcontact fingers 9, in this instance four. The insulating plate 7 isseated in an opening in the face plate 5 and is itself provided with aplurality of openings corresponding in number and position to thecontact fingers 9 which are the terminals of the signal circuits.

A plug device has an end plate 10 of insulating material carrying aplurality of pins or plug contacts 11 corresponding in. number andposition w1th the spring con-* tacts 9. -Each of these pins 11 isconnected to a circuit terminal 12 secured to the back of the disk 10.The circuit terminals and disk 10 are surrounded by a metal casing orshell consisting ofthe cylindrical body part 13 and the end cap 14 withone end of the body 13 spun over or flanged as at 15 to center andorotect the disk 10. The cap 14 has a flange 16 snugly fitting theopposite end of the body 13 and secured to it in a suitable manner asfor instance by one or more screws 17. The shell or casing is preferablylined with insulating fiber consisting of the disk 18 which is clampedin the head of the cap and secured by the eyelet l9 and the tubularportion 20 which fits between the. disk 18 and the disk 10.

The cable containing the multiple conductors connected to the terminals12 of the pins or plugs 11 is preferably protected by a yielding rubbertube 21 which provides a sanitary covering which is not only waterproofbut substantially non-absorbent and therefore less likely to becontaminated than a braided or-worcn covering. An annular ring 22 ispreferably mounted on the end of the conductors inside the plug casingand held in place by the end of the cable covering which is stretchedaOVGl it as shown in Figure 2. This provides a tight joint on the cableat this point and also substantially seals the end of the cable withinthe casing. It alsosh'rves as a strain relief so that a pull on the cordor cable is taken up by the thrust of the soft bulbous portion of thecovering 21 at the end of the casing instead of by the connections ofthe wires with the terminals 12. i

To insure the proper positioning of the plug contacts I prefer toprovide what may be termed a pilot pin 23 which is moulded 'or otherwisesecured in the face disk 10 of receive the lug or projection 26 which isin-- dented from the outer edge of the shell 13.

The push button construction shown in Fig- 4has a plurality of springcontact fingers such as 29 and 30 securedto an insulating base 31. Thelongitudinall movable contactmember 32 is adapte to be lating operatedby 'a pushbutton 33. This switch,

ing of ig. 2. The end of the cable is an-.

chored in this switch casing in a manner similar to the anchorage in theplug casing in Fig. 2. Here the insulating ring 39 surrounds the ends ofthe wiresadjacent the base 31 and the rubber covering of the cableis'stretched over this ring to form a seal and strain relief as beforedescribed.

1. In a construction of the character de scribed, a face plate, a framesecured to the rear thereof having two insulating members connectedtogether, one of said insulating members extending through said faceplate,

a plurality of contact springs carried by the other insulating member,the first mentioned insulating member havingmpenings in line therewithand having another opening ec- -c entric thereof and adaptedto receivethe pilot pin of an attachment plug for properwithin the casing oppositesaid opening,

1y positioning such .plug. 2. A multiple attachment plug of therharacter described comprising. a casing formed of two metal partsdetachably connected together, an insulating disk arranged in one partand having a plurality of projecting contact pins, an insulating diskforming a lining for the other part, an eyelet securing said disk tosaid other part and providing a cable passage and a tubular hn' dlsks.

3. A multiple attachment plug, of the g in said casing between saidinsucharacter described comprising a metallic casing consisting of acylindrical part and a beaded cap having an opening for a conductorcable, an insulating disksecured .within the bead of said cap, aninsulating disk secured within the end of the cylindrical part of thecasing, means for preventing rotation of said latter disk, a pluralityofcontact pins .extendingfrom said latter disk and an insulating lininginterposed between said disks.

4. In adevice of the character described, a metallic casing formed oftwo detachably connected parts one of which has an openi'ng therein, aninsulating lining in said part surrounding said opening, an eyeletsecuring said liningin said part, said eyelet forming a conductorpassage, an insulating member secured withinsaid casing, a plurality ofcircuit terminals secured to said insulating member opposite saideyelet, a

multiple conductor cord connected to said circuit terminals and extendng through said eyelet, a soft rubber covering for sald cord and means'within said casing for spreading said rubber covering around the inneredge of said eyelet.

5. In a devlce of the character described,

a metal casingformed of two detacliably connected parts, one of whichhas an openmg therein, an insulating member secured circuit terminalscarried by said insulatingmember a cable connection extending casing anda soft rubber covering for'said cable extending through saidopening andhaving its inner endsiread over said ring and providing a yieldlngshoulder sealing said opening.

JOSEPH o. CADIEUX.

